French PM defends police targeted by protesters
440 views · Published 29 December 2018 · 1:20 · Indexed 29 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(24 Dec 2018) France's prime minister met on Monday with police officers targeted by violent yellow vest protesters, in a show of support amid concerns about growing brutality from both sides. Edouard Philippe visited a motorcycle police unit involved in an incident on Saturday near the Champs-Elysees avenue in central Paris. In the incident, during the sixth straight weekend of protests by the grassroots movement protesting high taxes and other economic problems, an officer pulled a gun after protesters kicked over his motorcycle. He did not fire it, but the move prompted a surge of anger by demonstrators hurling paving stones and other projectiles that drove the officer and his team to flee. Prime Minister Philippe said he wanted to meet the four officers to thank them for their self-control and to assure them that everything was being done to find those involved and to bring them to justice. Many protesters have denounced what they describe as disproportionate responses by police that include multiple beatings also captured on video. Hundreds of people have been injured in the clashes, mainly protesters but also police officers and journalists. Police say they're acting in self-defence, and defended the officer who brandished his gun, saying it served as a deterrent to protect his colleagues. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/cdc3d40aaf50ff095c948a2ec5335281
